I guess I went a little crazy with the spending when I was a housewife. I am not usually a spendy person, but that's because I never had time to shop when I was working full time.

When I was a housewife for half a year, I undertook all these projects that I'd meant to do for years, like redecorating some rooms in the house, paying for things I usually wouldn't have time to do like a yoga retreat, or simply having more time to have lunches out with friends.

In my last month of at-home-momminess, I had so much time to spend money, my credit card bill was five times the normal. I can't even remember what I bought.

Gasp! What did I buy??

I'm quite consistent- if you track my credit spending over the last two decades you'll see it stays within the same range. Always. It might double if we're on a trip and I'm putting the airfare and hotel on the card. It never quintuples.

New role, new habits, I guess! Claus was FLOORED when the bill arrived. I shall say it again. FLOORED.

He doesn't ever yell or scold me, but he does give me low-grade, consistent heat for it in his low-key, humorous Claus way.

The other morning I told him I was going to pray and then offer ancestral money, otherwise known as hell money. We were running late for an appointment, so by way of apologizing to him, I said, "I'll be quick. Burning money doesn't take me long."

"I know that from looking at your last credit card bill," he sniped.

Other little gems from Husband: "I'm so glad I don't have to refinance the mortgage to pay your next Visa bill."

Diane,
At least NOW, you have an expense account that you can "write off" some of your expenditures to! Like Keoni said above, ya can't take it with you...but 5x the normal is cause for spousal concern.

I had a very tight, miserly, miserable (now ex) hubby. I just opened my own credit card and used a PO box. Yes decit but it was worth it when I got divorced cuz I still had it rather than having to apply for one. I also didn't have to 'answer' to him whenever the bill came. Saved ME much fighting and yelling. If two working folks marry I don't see why not rather than a joint card, IMO. Unless of course one is racking up tens of thousands without the other knowing.